Nepalese government must approve education reforms to end integrity award winner’s hunger strike

Transparency International and its chapter in Nepal are calling on the government to take action to end the hunger strike of Dr. Govinda KC, the 2015 winner of Transparency International Nepal’s National Integrity Award, and implement the reforms in medical education needed to combat cronyism.

Dr. KC has in the past resorted to hunger strikes to push for much-needed reforms that strengthen the quality of medical education in Nepal and keep it free from vested interests. To this end, the government should approve the Medical Education Bill, which was drafted with the help of Dr. KC.

“Dr. KC’s goal is to ensure that medical education in Nepal is free from nepotism and cronyism. The people of Nepal must be confident that their doctors and medical professionals are achieving the highest standards and that the profession is not co-opted by money or power. The government should not renege on an agreement that was reached to enshrine these principles in law,” said Shree Hari Aryal, President of Transparency International Nepal.

As part of the new law, students who do not achieve sufficient grades will not be able to proceed with medical studies. At the moment, some institutions accept fees and payments to circumvent sub-standard student marks. Reforming this is one of the key recommendations of the Mathema Commission and Dr. KC.